Estimation of needed isolation capacity for an airborne influenza pandemic

Abstract

We estimated the number of isolation beds needed to care for a surge in patients during an airborne-transmissible influenza pandemic. Based on US health system data, the amount of available airborne isolation beds needed for ill patients will be exceeded early in the course of a moderate or severe influenza pandemic, requiring medical facilities to find ways to further expand isolation bed capacity. Rather than building large numbers of permanent airborne infection isolation rooms to increase surge capacity, an investment that would come at great financial cost, it may be more prudent to prepare for wide-scale creation of just-in-time temporary negative-pressure wards.